Keith overcome nervy finish to defeat Deveronvale in Highland League Banffshire derby
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Keith scratched a seven-year itch in dramatic fashion when they defeated Deveronvale at Kynoch Park for the first time since 2016.
Yet, it almost turned so very sour for the Maroons after racing to what seemed to be an unassailable three-goal lead. Two strikes in the later stages for ‘Vale meant for a nail-biting five minutes of stoppage time for the home side.
Craig Ewen’s men seemed to set their stall out from the off and Jordan Cooper had the ball in the net in the 13th minute, only to be adjudged offside.
Mikey Taylor then squandered a great chance, clipping the ball right into the goalie’s arms after being left in the clear.
The deadlock was broken with 23 minutes on the clock when the Maroons were awarded a free kick 18 yards out and Kieran Yeats fired a beauty into the top corner for his first competitive goal for the club.
Four minutes later James Brownie, who played in the last win seven years ago, was sent sprawling inside the penalty area and Connor Killoh, sent ‘Vale goalie Sean McIntosh the wrong way with the resultant spot kick to join Yeats in grabbing his first senior goal.
The game seemed to be out of ‘Vale’s reach in the 73rd minute when Matty Tough nabbed a superb solo goal, racing up the left wing and cutting in to slam a low angled drive into the far corner of the net.
However, two goals in five minutes left the Maroons hanging on. First, substitute Liam Cheyne slipped, and young Vale sub Jack Mitchell pounced, nipping in to crash a drive into the roof of the net.
The nerve ends were then well-and-truly jangling when another slip saw another substitute Cameron Angus make no mistake, rifling a low drive home.
The Maroons dug bravely in though, to earn a valuable three points.
Keith team: Reid, Addison, Yeats (Cheyne 71), Coull, Robertson, Gill, Killoh (Ironside 86), Brownie, Cooper (Morrison 86), Taylor (Lynch 71), Tough (Wilson 80). Subs: Duncan, Smith, MacLeod.
Referee: J Kennedy.
